eco-friendly

What motivates you to exercise? Is it weight loss? A healthy heart? A clear mind? Some jeans hidden in the back corner of your closet? All are viable and helpful motivators for exercise. And the more motivators you have to stay active, the more likely you may be to stick to your routine.

Here’s another motivator to add to your list: save the planet.

Perhaps stillness comes naturally to some people. I, however, am not one.

The last time I rented a car, I was able to help the environment by tacking on a mere $1.25 to my rental cost. Granted, I’m still driving and spewing CO2 — but that small amount allowed me to offset my contribution to the carbon emissions generated by the typical rental car: about 300 pounds.

I’m not really a party pooper. I love cake. I adore Pin the Tail on the Donkey. I can even be cajoled into wearing a little pointy cardboard hat. But balloons? Grrr…

Why do I loathe balloons? An unfortunate “pop” in my childhood? A bizarre fear of brightly colored objects? A latex allergy?

He threw one beer can in the trash. Then another. Then at least a dozen more. And I didn’t do anything about it.

“He” is my husband’s brother, and it was his trash and his house. My family and I were guests for five days this summer and accomplices to his unsustainable disposal habits.